Tonight’s WWE SmackDown (03/01/2025) is live from Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Commentators are Michael Cole & Corey Graves and the ring announcer is Alicia Taylor.
WWE Friday Night SmackDown Results
Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre Segment
Cody Rhodes kicks off SmackDown and talks about his match against Kevin Owens. Drew McIntyre interrupts Cody Rhodes.
McIntyre hugs Cody Rhodes shockingly. Drew McIntyre takes shots at Kevin Owens for running round with a replica title and tells Cody Rhodes he wants to help him. Cody Rhodes doesn’t believe that Drew McIntyre wants to help him. Cody says he feels tension and tells Drew to come and get the WWE Championship!
Drew McIntyre says he’s here to help you and leaves the ring. Before going back he says Cody Rhodes to watch his back.
Out of nowhere, Kevin Owens attacks Cody Rhodes. A huge brawl breaks out. Officials came out to separate them.
First Match
WWE US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Andrade by pinfall. After the match, LA Knight shows up and attacks Nakamura. Nakamura slithers out of the ring. Knight grabs the microphone and says that he’s coming after Nakamura. Everywhere Nakamura goes, Knight will be there to stomp his ass out, with everybody saying his name.
Apollo Crews, Pretty Deadly and Legacy Del Fantasma backstage segment
Pretty Deadly calls Apollo Crews a stooge for ratting out DIY last week. Crews thinks that Pretty Deadly is slick. Legado Del Fantasma joins the conversation. Santos Escobar calls Pretty Deadly, Pretty Little Liars. If you’re going to lie on his family name, at least do it to their face. Kit Wilson calls Santos to calm down. LDF got into a brawl with Pretty Deadly. Nick Aldis says that he wants to have a little chat with Pretty Deadly. Before Aldis can read Pretty Deadly the riot act, DIY shows up, and Johnny Gargano wants to know why Nick is wasting his time believing Apollo Stooge. Nick doesn’t know what DIY and Pretty Deadly are up to, but they’re on pretty thin ice. DIY loves Pretty Deadly, but they have a big title match tonight against The Motor City Machine Guns, and it’s very important that they leave Phoenix as the WWE Tag Team Champions.
Second Match
Michin defeated Piper Niven w/Chelsea Green by pinfall.
Naomi Promo
My Glow isn’t just a look, it’s a reminder that in all of us, there’s a light. We’re beautiful, powerful, and we can change the world, just by being in it. I want to be a living reminder that we don’t have to experience life the way we’ve been told. That we will not be pushed around by the fear in our mind but led by the dreams in our hearts. I do the impossible. I change the environment around me. I am The Glow. I am Naomi.
Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa segment
Paul Heyman says he came out here to make it clear before the Raw on Netflix debut on Monday. Monday, we’re going to find out one thing. Who is the real Tribal Chief? And let’s all be transparent about this. Roman Reigns and I trained Solo to become the next in line to be the Tribal Chief. Roman Reigns and I taught Solo how to become the Tribal Chief. Roman Reigns and I prepped, prepared, Solo for the moment in time, in the future, the future, that when Roman Reigns was ready to step down as The Head Of The Table, The Head Of The Family, The Head Of All WWE, and then Solo would reign as The Tribal Chief.
After what happened to WrestleMania, Reigns was in blindspot. That’s where Solo Sikoa stole the Ula Fala from Roman Reigns’ bag. That twisted son of a b***h didn’t earn that Ula Fala, he stole it from Roman Reigns. He got rid of Jimmy Uso. He got rid of The Wiseman. He got rid of all of us. Why? Because he knew, no sane man was ever going to acknowledge, Solo Sikoa.
So, what did he do? He went out, and he got himself a band of these filthy animals, that don’t even belong in professional wrestling. He got, Tama Tonga, not welcomed in the United States. He got, Tanga Loa, not welcomed in the United States. He got, Jacob Fatu, who’s not even welcomed outside the United States Prison System, for crying out loud. He got these men, because none of us were ever going to acknowledge, Solo Sikoa. On Monday, live on Netflix, Tribal Combat, no rules, except there must be a winner, and there must be a loser. The winner of the match this Monday, and I absolutely promise you, The Tribal Chief, The Only Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.
Solo Sikoa interrupts Paul Heyman. Solo says Phoenix, Arizona. Acknowledge Me. Wiseman, I think it’s finally time for you to acknowledge the truth. You owe CM Punk a favor, right? How about this? Let me owe you a favor, okay? See, this Monday, I need someone to hold the Ula Fala during the Tribal Combat Match. I need somebody that is trustworthy. I need somebody that loves my family. Somebody that would never disrespect my family. And somebody that would never disrespect Ula Fala. So, this Monday, if Roman beats me in the Tribal Combat Match, you will put the Ula Fala around his neck, and I will acknowledge him as the Tribal Chief.
But when I beat Roman, and I will, you know it, I know it, and everyone here knows it, too. So, when I beat Roman in the Tribal Combat Match, you will put this Ula Fala around my neck, and everyone will know that I own this, and that I own you. You will be my Wiseman, forever. And then Roman will have no choice, but to finally acknowledge me.
Third Match
DIY (c) vs. Motor City Machine Guns match for the WWE Tag Team Titles ended in no-contest. At the closing moments of the match, Ciampa tags in Gargano. DIY hits their SuperKick/Fairy Tale Ending Combination for a two count. Pretty Deadly got into a big brawl with Los Garza. Shelley rolls Gargano over for a two count. Shelley applies The Border City Stretch. Sabin gets Ciampa trapped in The STF. Angel Garza tackles Kit Wilson into Sabin which forces the referee to call off the match.
Nia Jax and Candice LeRae backstage segment
Nia Jax is upset that Tiffany Stratton is nowhere to be found. Candice LeRae says that Tiffany is pretty sensitive, and maybe she’s offended by what Nia said about her last week. Candice is here, and Tiffany overcomplicates things. Nia says that after she’s done with Naomi tonight, maybe they can get another crack at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Nia just needs Candice to make sure that Bianca BelAir doesn’t get in the way.
Sami Zayn and Carmelo Hayes backstage segment
Sami Zayn runs into Carmelo Hayes in the backstage area. Melo says that he had Sami beat last week if it wasn’t for Braun Strowman. Sami mentions that Melo was two seconds away from getting kicked in the face, and he ran away. Melo was just sticking to the game plan. According to Melo, both Sami and Braun can get this work whenever they want. The Usos are standing behind Melo as he’s running his mouth. Jimmy Uso asked if there’s a problem here. Melo decides to walk away from The OG Bloodline. Jey Uso tells Sami to comb his hair and get ready for their 6-Man Tag Team Match. The Usos bump into Kevin Owens. Jey says that Kevin needs to watch where he’s walking, uce. Kevin responds by saying that Jey needs to watch his back.
Cody Rhodes and Nick Aldis backstage segment
Nick Aldis walks up to Cody Rhodes as he’s about to exit the arena. Nick wants to make sure if Cody’s okay. Cody made a huge deal about having a Ladder Match at the Royal Rumble, and now he’s doing everything he can to make sure he won’t make it to the Rumble. Nick tells Cody to put his hatred to the side and think about the big picture. Cody appreciates the fact that Nick is focusing on his future and the company’s future, he’s a great boss, but he’s the champion. This is the biggest week in the company’s history.
And as much as Nick wants to put Cody on the shelf until the Royal Rumble, Cody has the power call his shot. Cody tells Nick to go have a conversation with Drew McIntyre since he wants to join SmackDown. Drew has Cody’s attention. Before WrestleMania last year, Cody said that, when one story ends, a whole new story begins. And here’s the story, if he sees Kevin Owens or even someone who looks like Kevin Owens, he will drop them on sight.
Fourth Match
Nia Jax (c) w/Candice LeRae defeated Naomi w/Bianca BelAir by pinfall and successfully retained her WWE Women’s Championship. At the closing moments of the match, Jax goes for The Avalanche World’s Strongest Slam, but Naomi counters with The Powerslam. Tiffany Stratton comes out with a referee and teases cash-in. But suddenly she attacks Naomi with her Money In The Bank Briefcase. Jax connects with The Annihilator to pickup the victory.
After the match, Jax tees off on BelAir. Stratton attacks Jax and LeRae with the MITB Briefcase. Stratton drives LeRae shoulder first into the ring post. BelAir plants Jax with The KOD. Stratton launches BelAir over the announce table. Stratton finally decides to cash in her MITB Briefcase.
Fifth Match
Tiffany Stratton defeated Nia Jax by pinfall and became the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Video Package
We got a video package on the Roman Reigns/Solo Sikoa Rivalry.
Announcement
There will be a special Raw Post-Game Show hosted by Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett, Big E following the Raw Netflix Premiere.
LA Knight backstage interview
LA Knight tells Byron Saxton that he’ll get a shot at the United States Championship next week. Knight says that he’s willing to put anybody that gets in his way back into factory settings.
Sixth Match
The Bloodline defeated Sami Zayn & The Usos by pinfall in a 6-Man Tag Team Match.
